Changed hide out after a molt?

[Em243]

So I might have done something really stupid in a moment of panic. My 3" B. smithi molted on Thursday, it went really well and was over in about an hour, and she's been laying out and stretching ever since, and generally looking fine. I have a small pot in her tank as a hide, but today I noticed that it was growing this really hideous, oddly colored mold and in a moment of panic wondering if it could hurt her, because she uses that hide occasionally, I took it out and replaced it with a new hide. She only moved slightly out of my way when I did this, and was really calm the whole time, but now I'm remembering how everyone says to give them at least a week after a molt to recover, and I was wondering if there's any chance that my messing with her tank could do her any harm? She's barely moved since I did it and she doesn't seem too agitated, but I'm worried I really messed up.

 

[cold blood]

I cannot figure out what is worrying you...that the t moved? They CAN move just after molting, after all, they do manage to flip themselves back over.

 

[BobBarley]

Don't worry about it, as cold blood said, it will be fine.

 

[Em243]

I just remembered that everywhere said not to bother them at all for at least a week after a molt, and I didn't know if disturbing her could cause any problems either related to stress or her climbing around trying to explore the new hide. I thought I might just be worrying for nothing, but I've only had her for about a year so I figured rather be safe than sorry and ask the people that know more than me whether I could have just caused a huge problem in the long run. Sorry for the newbie questions!

 

[Belegnole]

You should be fine.

 

[Flexzone]

Keep the sub dry and enclosure well vented. Once there juvi's/adult's there fine with just having a water bowel as a source of humidity. Keeping mold from colonizing. And like the others have said, It will be .

 

[ErinM31]

I'm a newbie, but I would think that the prohibition would be against handling them, feeding them or, yes, stressing them too much. But you changed one element and, IMHO, that moldy hide could have been a risk, whether more or less so right after a molt, I do not know, but I think that you did the right thing.

 

[Em243]

Ok, thanks everyone. I'm just so new at this that I am petrified of making any mistake that would hurt her. I appreciate all of the kind responses so much!!!

 

[MikeC]

Oh, no!!

You're telling me it moved slightly after molting less than a week ago?
You've obviously seriously jeopardized it's health and well being, especially after removing beneficial mold from its hide.

/end sarcasm

 

[Spidermolt]

Your tarantula will be fine. you should always leave a tarantula alone after a molt to reduce the chances of stress or harm while it is still vulnerable but when people say a week it is because it is just a basic general time vs time of courtesy. So when I say that I mostly mean that it differs on how large a tarantula is, for example if I have a tarantula with a DLS of 2" after molting then I know that it will harden enough and be fine to disturb and safely feed after 5 days if needed where a tarantula that molted with a 5" DLS should be left alone for at least 11 days before I would even look at them.
Just remember that in the wild a tarantula will never live in a safe haven as like a luxurious cage so doing a careful and simple change shouldn't do any harm to a T with a 3" DLS 3 days as long as you don't physically disturb it too much.